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This snake charmer wrangles rattlers and advocates for the misunderstood reptiles

June 4, 2025

As a San Francisco transplant in Landers, CA, Danielle Wall didn’t exactly plan to become the High Desert’s go-to snake wrangler. But one encounter with a rattlesnake in the middle of the road — paired with a lifelong soft spot for misfits and misunderstood creatures — changed her trajectory.

What started with a stick and a shaky hand quickly became a full-blown calling. These days, the former lingerie model is the one locals call when a rattler shows up uninvited. No hazmat suit, no bravado. Just Wall in her thrifted cowboy boots with a pair of tongs and a knack for staying calm when everyone else is climbing the furniture.

Her mission goes beyond snake removal: she’s out to dismantle the fear around these misunderstood and maligned reptiles — one call, one Instagram story, one wild encounter at a time.

Snake wrangler Danielle Wall holds a Southwestern speckled rattlesnake near Landers, CA on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Wall volunteers to move snakes from homeowners property and relocate them within their home range. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Q: Let’s start from the beginning. What’s the story of your first rattlesnake rescue?

A: Total accident. I was working a 9 to 5, driving a boring Honda Civic, managing a wedding venue out in Pipes Canyon, and one day I nearly ran over a rattlesnake. I pulled over, because I don’t want anything dying — but there’s no phone service, so I couldn’t call for help. I eventually found a stick, and I poked it, and it scooted off. I was like, “Well, that wasn’t so scary.” That moment changed everything.

Q: What made you think this could be more than a one-time thing?

A: I was always, like, a nature freak, and I’ve done pit bull rescue. So I tried to see what was in place for humane snake removal, and everything was kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. I realized there was no one to wrangle them, and I thought, how hard could it be?

Q: And you’re self-taught? No formal certifications?

A: There’s no rattlesnake certification in California. It’s all a grey area with [the Department of] Fish & Wildlife, so I only work on private property, moving snakes within their home range. I operate in an in-between space — trying to do good in a system that hasn’t caught up yet.

Q: Did you face any barriers when you first entered the field?

A: Early on, I reached out to a high-level pro in the snake world, and he told me, “Sit down, little girl. You’re going to get hurt.” So I decided: I’m going to become better than you. I’m going to become better than everyone. Suddenly, I had a life purpose.

Q: How did you spread the word about your work?

A: One Facebook post. A woman needed a snake moved, and everyone in the comments said, “Kill it.” I said I’d help. That turned into 50 calls that year. Now I get hundreds. I’ve never stopped. I started doing it for free, and I still do it all as a volunteer. I know what it’s like to make money, and this work feels better than making money.

Q: What happens when someone calls you about a snake?

A: I ask for a photo, if it’s safely possible. If it’s a rattlesnake, I go. If it’s a harmless red racer, I don’t unless it’s trapped. I work my butt off to respond fast. But I don’t charge, so I have to keep it local. I’ve had people offer hundreds for a house call an hour-and-a-half away, but if I’m gone for three hours, I could miss three local emergencies.

Q: What’s your go-to gear?

A: Snake tongs, which are like big, glorified barbecue tongs. A two-foot hook. A secure clear-front catch bin. And always boots — mid-calf or higher. I thrift them. I don’t use gloves; I’ve got small hands, and most gear is made for men. In most situations, my hands are away from the snake anyway.

Q: You must get asked this a lot, but I have to know: Have you ever been bitten?

A: No. It’s so easy to not get bitten. Most bites in the U.S. [about 75-80 percent of venomous snake bites] happen to young men — the two main reasons are testosterone and booze. So I’m cautious, but I know the data. Statistically what I do is much safer than driving down Old Woman Springs Road every day.

Q: Any close calls?

A: Never from a snake. But people? Absolutely. Steve Irwin said it best about crocodiles: they don’t pretend to be your friend before trying to eat you. Snakes are predictable. People aren’t.

Q: What do people misunderstand most about rattlesnakes?

A: That they’re aggressive. They’re not. They’re defensive. They don’t chase you. They just want to be left alone. Rattlesnakes behave more like feral kittens than monsters. If you don’t touch them, they won’t touch you.

Q: When you respond to a snake call, you relocate them. How far do you take them?

A: I try to keep it within their home range, ideally under a mile. If you move them too far, they’re likely to die. It’s all about striking a balance between safety and survival.

Q: After a wildfire, what actually happens to the snakes? Are people more likely to encounter them?

A: I’m no expert on fire ecology, but snakes definitely get displaced. Rattlesnakes are extremely territorial creatures that typically spend their entire 20-year lifespans within just a half-mile radius. They’re very routine, hermit-like animals. So while displacement definitely occurs after a disaster, these snakes won’t travel far from their original territory unless absolutely necessary.

Q: What advice do you have for people who encounter a snake?

A: Don’t touch it. Most bites happen because people get too close, often trying to take pictures. Use the zoom on your camera instead. Accidental bites do happen, but many are preventable with proper footwear and awareness. If you must move a snake off a porch or path, toss sand at it gently. Don’t poke it with a stick or broom.

Q: What’s something you wish people better understood about you and your work?

A: That I’m not doing this to be famous. I’m doing it because someone has to. I love these creatures. They’re misunderstood and vital to the ecosystem, just like hawks or owls. The more we can decrease fear by showing the true demeanor of snakes, the better.

Q: How can people support you?

A: Follow me on Instagram: @high_desert_dani. That’s where I post updates, calls and photos. (I don’t have a website; I’m not great with technology, I just like wrangling.)

Donations help. Venmo is linked there, too. I don’t charge for calls, so anything helps with gas, gear, wear and tear on my truck. But mostly, support by spreading the word: there is a way to live with rattlesnakes without killing them.

This snake charmer wrangles rattlers and advocates for the misunderstood reptiles Orange County Register

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This snake charmer wrangles rattlers and advocates for the misunderstood reptiles

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